ID :
76277
Thu, 08/20/2009 - 19:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/76277
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Jaswant flays ban on book by Gujarat government
Shimla, Aug 20 (PTI) Criticising a ban imposed on his
book by Gujarat government, expelled Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) leader Jaswant Singh Thursday said it amounted to
"banning thinking" and likened the step to the one taken
against noted author Salman Rushdie for his controversial work
'Satanic Verses'.
"I am greatly saddened by it," Singh told reporters on
the Gujarat government's decision to ban his book
"Jinnah--India, Partition, Independence".
"The day we start banning books, we are banning
thinking," said Singh, who was expelled by BJP for the book in
which he has praised the Pakistan founder M A Jinnah.
He said the step taken by Gujarat government was
"another example of (action taken against) Salman Rushdie and
Satanic Verses" which was banned for its controversial
contents on Islam.
Asked to comment on BJP's contention that he had been
expelled for his uncharitable comments in the book against
Sardar Patel and that his views on Jinnah were different from
those of L K Advani, he said, "Let me understand why (I was
expelled). Nobody has told me".
On his continuance as MP from Darjeeling, he said he
got a telephonic call from his constituency that the people
there wanted him to continue as their representative in
Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament).
Gujarat government last night banned Jaswant's book on
Jinnah alleging it was an attempt to defame the image of the
country's first Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel by
"questioning his patrioric spirit".
"Jaswant Singh's book questions role of Sardar Patel
during the partition of India as well as his patriotic spirit.
This is an attempt to tarnish the image of Patel who is
considered the architect of modern united India," a statement
issued by the state government said.
"It is a bid to defame Patel by distorting historical
facts," it charged.
"So, the state government has decided to ban the book
with immediate effect for wider public interest," it said.
"As per the ban, there cannot be sale, distribution or
publication of the book in the state," it said. PTI
book by Gujarat government, expelled Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) leader Jaswant Singh Thursday said it amounted to
"banning thinking" and likened the step to the one taken
against noted author Salman Rushdie for his controversial work
'Satanic Verses'.
"I am greatly saddened by it," Singh told reporters on
the Gujarat government's decision to ban his book
"Jinnah--India, Partition, Independence".
"The day we start banning books, we are banning
thinking," said Singh, who was expelled by BJP for the book in
which he has praised the Pakistan founder M A Jinnah.
He said the step taken by Gujarat government was
"another example of (action taken against) Salman Rushdie and
Satanic Verses" which was banned for its controversial
contents on Islam.
Asked to comment on BJP's contention that he had been
expelled for his uncharitable comments in the book against
Sardar Patel and that his views on Jinnah were different from
those of L K Advani, he said, "Let me understand why (I was
expelled). Nobody has told me".
On his continuance as MP from Darjeeling, he said he
got a telephonic call from his constituency that the people
there wanted him to continue as their representative in
Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament).
Gujarat government last night banned Jaswant's book on
Jinnah alleging it was an attempt to defame the image of the
country's first Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel by
"questioning his patrioric spirit".
"Jaswant Singh's book questions role of Sardar Patel
during the partition of India as well as his patriotic spirit.
This is an attempt to tarnish the image of Patel who is
considered the architect of modern united India," a statement
issued by the state government said.
"It is a bid to defame Patel by distorting historical
facts," it charged.
"So, the state government has decided to ban the book
with immediate effect for wider public interest," it said.
"As per the ban, there cannot be sale, distribution or
publication of the book in the state," it said. PTI
